Uruguay’s Operation Midas ended on 7 December 2025 with four search warrants at a chacra near Juan Soler in San José and three rural properties in Canelones.[1][2][3][4][5] Police seized 4,433.65 kg of cannabis material and 46.52 kg of hashish resin from a clandestine processing laboratory, along with vehicles, steel towers and dry-ice packaging used in production.[1][2][3][4][6]

Two Uruguayans and two Brazilians were detained; prosecutors said the hashish was destined for Brazil’s illegal market.[1][2][3][4][6] On 9 December the Interior Ministry reported abbreviated sentences: one Brazilian received three years in prison for aggravated conspiracy, production and importing drugs; another Brazilian two years for conspiracy and production; and two others 24 and 18 months on probation with partial house arrest and community work.[1][2][3][4]

Investigators had opened the case on 22 May 2025 after Rocha anti-drug police traced irregular imports through the Chuy border used for hashish production inputs.[1][2][3][4]

The Brazilian detainee who supervised production was studying biochemistry, Julio Sena, head of investigations at the National Police, said at a press conference on 9 December.[4] Sena said investigators had found no indication so far linking Operation Midas to earlier hashish hauls, including 750 kg seized in three June operations thought to involve Brazil’s First Capital Command.[4]

At the Juan Soler site police took 1,194.39 kg of marijuana in various forms and 46.52 kg of a viscous brown substance identified as cannabis resin, and in Canelones 3,192.74 kg of plant material.[6] The four people detained at Juan Soler said they were making cannabis oil for purportedly therapeutic use rather than hashish, but had no state authorization.[6] The presence of butane gas led investigators to the site and suggested the resin was extracted on the property rather than imported ready-made.[6]